The social and economic outcome after upper limb amputation

Abstract

This paper reports a study of 66 upper limb amputees in County Funen, Denmark who were visited in their homes by the author. The purpose of the study was to evaluate for the same period of time the social and economic outcome for a population of upper limb amputees compared with the normal population. The number of amputees investigated corresponds to the annual number of persons becoming upper limb amputees in Denmark. The aetiology of registered amputees also corresponds to the Danish Amputation Register. The amputees had become “better placed” in the social system after amputation independent of prosthetic use. The mean age of the amputees corresponded with the age where people reach their best social grouping. Their social migration quotient was higher than the background population and reflected the amputees better income and housing conditions. The reasons for these surprising results must be the high grade social system in a sophisticated industrial country. None of the amputees were required to pay for rehabilitation or prosthetic supply. A lower divorce rate for the amputees was explained by a symbiosis between the amputees and their partners to protect their future existence. Only 14% lived alone. Those who had their sexual debut after amputation were 3 years later in sexual experience than the rest of the amputees because of difficulties during the maturing process.